Owners of Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier have announced plans to take over a former GODIVA Chocolatier store at the Saint Louis Galleria in St. Louis, Mo.

The lease for the location — space 1421 near Nordstrom and Saint Louis Bread Co. on the main floor — began March 1. It’s set to open as Bissinger’s in mid-March, ahead of Easter.

The Bissinger’s Galleria location will offer the full line of Bissinger’s French Confections, as well as seasonal confections, chocolate truffles, fresh-dipped fruits and pastries, premium soft-serve ice cream, hot chocolate, coffee and shakes. 

Dan Abel Jr., v.p. of operations for Bissinger’s and Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Co., said the location suited the premium nature and French roots of the Bissinger’s brand. 

“We felt the layout and design of the existing GODIVA space and selection mirrored Bissinger’s layout, and Bissinger’s once had a store at St. Louis Galleria, so we hope to re-engage that customer base,” he said.

GODIVA announced in January it would leave 128 of its North American retail stores by the end of the month to focus on food, drug and mass retail and online sales. In February, Läderach announced it would take over the leases of 34 former GODIVA stores across the United States.

Abel said Brookfield Properties, which owns the Saint Louis Galleria, also owns Plaza Frontenac, in Frontenac, Mo., where its other Bissinger’s retail boutique is located.

“We had reached out to Brookfield after we heard news of GODIVA closing, and they moved quickly to get us in for Easter,” he said.

The Abel family acquired the Bissinger’s brand and associated manufacturing equipment in June 2019. Bissinger’s products are manufactured at Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate’s facility on The Hill, an Italian neighborhood on St. Louis’ west side.